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BOS@CWS: Wakefield solid in tough loss to White Sox

Tim Wakefield is hoping this is the start.

Boston's knuckleball pitcher needs just one more victory to reach 200 wins for his career. The problem is that Wakefield hasn't earned a win since July 24.

Since that time, he has turned in three quality starts, but it hasn't been enough. Wakefield will try once more for his elusive 200th career victory Sunday as he takes the mound against Seattle, the team he beat for win No. 199.

But Boston manager Terry Francona made it clear that the milestone won't affect the way he handles Wakefield's start.

"I wouldn't say it's not in my mind because I know, but you just can't [treat the game differently]," Francona said. "It's not fair to the team. And that's what makes part of it so special. Like hitting streaks, you do it during the normal course of events. You don't try to change things."

If Wakefield is going to earn the win, he will have to outduel Mariners starter Charlie Furbush, who is making his fourth appearance (third start) for Seattle on Sunday since being acquired from the Tigers on July 30.

Furbush pitched primarily out of Detroit's bullpen, but Seattle wants to give him a shot in its starting rotation. After the Mariners limited the left-hander's pitch count in his first two starts, he will be allowed to throw deeper into the game Sunday.

"He should be pretty good," Seattle manager Eric Wedge. "He'll be in that 100-pitch range tomorrow. For a young kid, that is somewhat stretched out. You don't want to go too far beyond that really."

Red Sox: Youkilis held out of lineup
Third baseman Kevin Youkilis missed his second consecutive game with a sore back Saturday.

"He's still sore," Francona said. "We're going to stay away from him."

� David Ortiz has homered four times in the past eight games.

Mariners: Smoak placed on DL, Pena called up
Seattle placed first baseman Justin Smoak on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after he suffered a broken nose and a hairline fracture of the check bone below his left eye Friday.

In his place, the Mariners selected Wily Mo Pena from Triple-A Tacoma.

� The Mariners signed catcher Tyler Marlette on Saturday. He was the team's fifth-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Worth noting
� Wakefield is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts against Seattle this season.

� Furbush is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 13 1/3 innings pitched since the All-Star break.